Former Ogun governor Daniel quits partisan politics

Former governor of Ogun State Gbenga Daniel has resigned from partisan politics.

Daniel’s resignation was contained in a letter he personally signed, dated March 14 and addressed and copied to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, the chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP and the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar.

The ex governor, who was at the helm in Ogun between 2003 and 2011, stated in the letter, a copy which was obtained by our correspondent on Saturday, that his decision to quit politics remained personal to him.

According to him, he had resolved to immerse himself in other vocations and take on new challenges.

He added that he had also decided to rejuvenate his charity based organization, the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF), and resuscitate the non-partisan Political Leadership Academy (POLA), established some years ago as a platform for political education of citizens.

While going through the trajectory of his political career, Daniel, popularly known as OGD, disclosed in the letter that he had made contacts, networks and friends across the country during his campaigns for the position of PDP chairmanship and as the Director General of Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCO).

He added that the two sojourns made him realise he had fewer points to make and prove in his journeys in partisan politics.

Daniel stressed further that he had no regrets over what he termed a “patriotic choice and decision”, but was rather fulfilled by joining other stakeholders in Ogun State, to put a stop to a regime believed to be against the collective and general welfare of Ogun people.

The letter reads in part: “This is to inform you of my intention to resign from active and partisan politics with effect from 14th day of March, 2019.

“My decision in this regard is entirely personal to me and having served in various capacities, including as Governor of Ogun State, I have resolved to immerse myself in some other vocations and take on some new challenges.

“Meanwhile, the PDP in Ogun State was confronted with a very difficult situation in matter of choice. Whereas the national leadership of our party, recognized one candidate for the 2019 election, by court pronouncements another candidate, and in compliance with those court orders, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognized was on the INEC list. The candidates recognized by INEC were not acceptable to the national leadership of the party. Our situation was then compounded because the candidate which the court and INEC recognized and accepted as valid has also been expelled by the party. This was the dilemma we found ourself as we approached the March 9, 2019 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

“Going forward, we have responded to the yearnings of our people and joined others in emplacing an administration that we believe will better serve the interests of our people than what currently exists. The rest they say is now history.

“I must say that looking back, I do not have any regrets over that patriotic choice and decision, especially as several of our citizens, leaders and stakeholders in the state and outside have commended that singular action. Many stakeholders within and outside Ogun State feel fulfilled, excited and grateful about our decision to join others in putting a stop to a regime that was believed to be against the collective and general welfare of our people.

“Let me also add, that in the last few months, I have had one of the rare privileges of traveling round the entire length and breadth of our great country on at least two occasions; the first being during my campaigns to become the National Chairman of our great party, and later as the Director General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization (APCO).

“I must sincerely admit that in the course of all these travels, I have built a network of contacts, of friends and associates in a mutually rewarding relationships which I cherished most and greatly too. I am therefore persuaded that I have fewer points to make and prove in my Political journeys in partisan politics.

“My decision to quit partisan politics notwithstanding, I have decided to rejuvenate my charity based organization, the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF) which will literally continue to dispense succor to our people in need, address and assist in the areas of some of their health challenges; I also plan on resuscitation of the non-partisan Political Leadership Academy (POLA) which I established some years ago as a platform of political education to our citizens.

“Without doubt, I will miss the company of my friends and associates and all those relationships I built in the course of the years all over the country.